A process for making a shrink pouch having strong shrink tension in the pouch transverse direction and minimal or no shrink tension in the pouch longitudinal direction is provided. The process includes the steps of reinflating and cold-stretch orienting a previously collapsed blown film and feeding the cold-stretch oriented blown film in a flattened configuration into a side-fed pouch making machine, whereupon the longitudinal direction of the blown film becomes the transverse direction of the pouches thus formed, and vice versa. A shrink pouch having strong transverse shrink tension and little or no longitudinal shrink tension is also provided.

There is provided a thermoplastic fluororesin tube that, during the production of a catheter, can prevent a gap or air bubbles from being formed in the connection part of the catheter, and can be suitably used for the production of a catheter. A thermoplastic fluororesin tube, the thermoplastic fluororesin tube having tearability in a longitudinal direction, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient in the longitudinal direction upon heating in a gaseous phase at a temperature of 100° C. for 5 minutes is 0% or more.

There is provided a thermoplastic fluororesin tube that, during the production of a catheter, can prevent a gap or air bubbles from being formed in the connection part of the catheter, and can be suitably used for the production of a catheter. A thermoplastic fluororesin tube, the thermoplastic fluororesin tube having tearability in a longitudinal direction, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient in the longitudinal direction upon heating in a gaseous phase at a temperature of 100° C. for 5 minutes is 0% or more.

Provided are methods and systems for manufacturing and using heat-shrink elastomeric. An example method of manufacturing a heat-shrink elastomeric element comprises providing a thermoplastic elastomeric element having a first shape; modifying the thermoplastic elastomeric element to produce a thermoset elastomeric element having the first shape; heating the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature of at least the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element; adjusting the first shape of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce a second shape with at least one dimension greater than that of the first shape; and cooling the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce the heat-shrink elastomeric element.

Provided are methods and systems for manufacturing and using heat-shrink elastomeric. An example method of manufacturing a heat-shrink elastomeric element comprises providing a thermoplastic elastomeric element having a first shape; modifying the thermoplastic elastomeric element to produce a thermoset elastomeric element having the first shape; heating the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature of at least the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element; adjusting the first shape of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce a second shape with at least one dimension greater than that of the first shape; and cooling the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce the heat-shrink elastomeric element.

The present invention relates to heat-shrinkable articles, including tubes, O-ring, sleeves, sealants possessing outstanding elastomeric properties, ability to elastic deformation beyond 200%, and ability to precisely and completely recover design dimensions, while possessing significantly improved mechanical properties, in particular higher tensile strength; to a method of making the same, and to a method of using the same including reverting to a shrunk state. The heat shrinkable article is made of a composition comprising at least one fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer comprising at least one elastomeric block and one thermoplastic block, iodine and/or bromine cure sites, at least one organic peroxid, and at least one polyunsaturated compound.

The present invention relates to heat-shrinkable articles, including tubes, O-ring, sleeves, sealants possessing outstanding elastomeric properties, ability to elastic deformation beyond 200%, and ability to precisely and completely recover design dimensions, while possessing significantly improved mechanical properties, in particular higher tensile strength; to a method of making the same, and to a method of using the same including reverting to a shrunk state. The heat shrinkable article is made of a composition comprising at least one fluorinated thermoplastic elastomer comprising at least one elastomeric block and one thermoplastic block, iodine and/or bromine cure sites, at least one organic peroxid, and at least one polyunsaturated compound.

The tube is stretchable. The tube is stretched by applying tension in a longitudinal direction. The tube returns to its short state by releasing the above-described tension applied in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of protrusions are formed on an inner surface of the tube. Each of the plurality of protrusions extends in a circumferential direction. The plurality of protrusions are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the tube. A pitch of the protrusions is less than or equal to 1.5 μm.

The tube is stretchable. The tube is stretched by applying tension in a longitudinal direction. The tube returns to its short state by releasing the above-described tension applied in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of protrusions are formed on an inner surface of the tube. Each of the plurality of protrusions extends in a circumferential direction. The plurality of protrusions are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the tube. A pitch of the protrusions is less than or equal to 1.5 μm.

Provided are methods and systems for manufacturing and using heat-shrink elastomeric. An example method of manufacturing a heat-shrink elastomeric element comprises providing a thermoplastic elastomeric element having a first shape; modifying the thermoplastic elastomeric element to produce a thermoset elastomeric element having the first shape; heating the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature of at least the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element; adjusting the first shape of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce a second shape with at least one dimension greater than that of the first shape; and cooling the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce the heat-shrink elastomeric element.